Hi. I have a very, very lethargic guinea pig who isn't eating and not staying awake. It's bank holiday weekend I've contacted to vets who are friends and an emergency vet but no one available. My kids are crying and I'm not sure what to do. Is there anything I can go buy?
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Help poorly guinea pig weekend not sure what to do
- Thread starter *CJ*
- Start date
I’m so sorry to hear this
When you say an emergency vet isn’t an available, what have they actually said? That they simply cannot see you at all or that they aren’t experienced etc?
Keep trying all emergency vets in your area
You can try to syringe feed mushed pellets or a recovery feed if your piggy is still able to swallow.
Is your piggy indoors?
perhaps suffering from heatstroke?
I have added all our emergency guides in below.
I hope he is ok
Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
List Of Life And Death Out-of-hours Emergencies
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
Hot Weather Management, Heat Strokes and Fly Strike
I don’t like having to add this guide but it may be helpful
A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs
When you say an emergency vet isn’t an available, what have they actually said? That they simply cannot see you at all or that they aren’t experienced etc?
Keep trying all emergency vets in your area
You can try to syringe feed mushed pellets or a recovery feed if your piggy is still able to swallow.
Is your piggy indoors?
perhaps suffering from heatstroke?
I have added all our emergency guides in below.
I hope he is ok
Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
List Of Life And Death Out-of-hours Emergencies
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
Hot Weather Management, Heat Strokes and Fly Strike
I don’t like having to add this guide but it may be helpful
A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs
Thank you. I got her to an emergency vet. We are trying painkillers and antibiotics. I've got two lots into her this afternoon and this evening. I've also got fluid into her with a syringe and have got a little bit of mashed pellets. She took the fluid well. She's still very very lethargic. She made a bit of a distressed whine in the last half hour then my daughter said there was a bad smell. She looks to have a bit of what looks like blood underneath too so I wonder if she's tried to wee because we've got fluids into her. Hopefully the antibiotics will work
Thank you. I got in. Got her some antibiotics so will see if it does anything. Managing to get fluids into her with a syringe and a little bit of food.
Rescued One
Junior Guinea Pig
Putting you and piggie on the prayer list. It is so hard when they can't tell you what's wrong. I hope everything works out for you.
Mrs Tiggy Winkle
Senior Guinea Pig
Thinking of you, your piggie and your children 
Fingers crossed for her
Make sure you weigh her every morning so you can make sure you are keeping her weight stable with sufficient syringe feed.
You are aiming for 60ml of mushed pellets or recovery feed (recovery feed is higher fibre) per 24 hours, but no less than 40ml (40ml is the minimum amount needed to keep the gut functioning).
Keep us updated and I hope she is ok
Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support Levels
Make sure you weigh her every morning so you can make sure you are keeping her weight stable with sufficient syringe feed.
You are aiming for 60ml of mushed pellets or recovery feed (recovery feed is higher fibre) per 24 hours, but no less than 40ml (40ml is the minimum amount needed to keep the gut functioning).
Keep us updated and I hope she is ok
Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support Levels
What does the vet think is wrong with her? Sending healing vibes
I hope it’s just a UTI and it clears up quickly with the medication. Weigh her every morning before food to monitor her weight. If she’s dropped then you need to feed more critical care that day.
As she is on antibiotics then they can cause a tummy upset so I always use Pro-C about an hour after the antibiotics. You can get this from Pets at Home. Put some into the critical care.
I’m dealing with a piggy who is peeing blood. Hes been on ABs and pain medication for a week. No change so he’s havingg a scan to look for bladder stones next week.
As she is on antibiotics then they can cause a tummy upset so I always use Pro-C about an hour after the antibiotics. You can get this from Pets at Home. Put some into the critical care.
I’m dealing with a piggy who is peeing blood. Hes been on ABs and pain medication for a week. No change so he’s havingg a scan to look for bladder stones next week.
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Holding you in my heart 
Not pooping is due to reduced food intake over the past 1-2 days. Poop output is 1-2 days behind food intake so no poop today means not enough yesterday/the day before. Ensure you are getting enough syringe feed into her to keep her weight stable each day and once her system is working poops will appear 1-2 days after. This is why poop output is an unreliable gauge on food intake due to the delay.
Weight checks are your up to date gauge of food intake.
Little urine output could be of concern though, particularly if you have managed to get fluid into her.
Is she any brighter today?
Truffle sadly took a turn for the worst this afternoon. Took her to the emergency vet and sadly nothing could be done. She had sepsis and her veins had shut down. I feel so awful. Kept saying what if I'd noticed a little bit earlier, could I have done anything else. Got two heartbroken daughters and a guinea pig now looking for her friend. 
Thank you for all your advice and support. X
Thank you for all your advice and support. X
piggieminder
Forum Buddy
I am so sorry you have lost Truffle. Please don't question your actions you did everything your could and should have done, piggies hide their illnesses so well.
Mrs Tiggy Winkle
Senior Guinea Pig
I'm so sorry! Please be gentle with yourself, I know the "if only I had noticed earlier/ looked earlier" etc mind loops all too well. You did the best you could and none of us can do more than that. I don't mean that in a disparaging way.
Truffle is at peace and pain-free over at
maybe running in the meadows and playing with other guineas.
Hugs to you and your children.
Truffle is at peace and pain-free over at
maybe running in the meadows and playing with other guineas.Hugs to you and your children.
Viennese Furbabies
Forum Buddy
I'm very sorry for your loss!
You did everything you could have done. Please don't feel guilty.
You did everything you could have done. Please don't feel guilty.
CTWC
Forum Donator 2025/26
I am so sorry for the loss of dear Truffle, look after eachother 
LucyP
Forum Donator 2025/26
Oh I’m so very sorry. You were clearly a very loving and caring owner but some things are outside of our control. It’s heartbreaking I know and we all question ourselves when these things happen, it’s natural. But you trod your very best. I’m so sorry. Be proud of the happy life you gave her and take care of yourselves.
Thank you. It's so sad. Giving her little friend lots of cuddles today x
Thank you she was loved and hope she knew that x
Thank you xI'm so sorry! Please be gentle with yourself, I know the "if only I had noticed earlier/ looked earlier" etc mind loops all too well. You did the best you could and none of us can do more than that. I don't mean that in a disparaging way.
Truffle is at peace and pain-free over at
Hugs to you and your children.
Rescued One
Junior Guinea Pig
Condolences on your loss. I'm sure that you did everything you could! Prey animals tend to hide their illness as long as possible, so it's almost impossible to catch a problem "early". Putting your family on the prayer list 